Jacksonville, Fla. – Oct. 11, 2017 – Mercedes-Benz USA has recalled a handful of vehicles possibly equipped with improperly welded power steering control units, according to documentation filed with the National Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017 AMG C43 and E43 4matic sedans, 2017 E300 4matic sedans and 2017 GLC 300 sport utility vehicles with production dates ranging from Sept. 22, 2016 to Feb. 9, 2017. Mercedes-Benz suspects 100 percent of the models referenced in the action contain the defective parts.
The Defect
Affected vehicles could be equipped with improperly welded power steering control units. Specifically, power steering contact pins may be affixed in a manner that makes them prone to disconnection. This could lead to power steering assist deactivation, which increases the likelihood of accidents and therefore poses a serious threat to occupants. Drivers operating vehicles that experience unexpected power steering assist loss normally receive alerts via their instrument clusters and hear accompanying chimes.
Mercedes-Benz has yet to receive reports connecting the defect to any accidents or injuries.
Timeline of Events
In March 2017, Daimler AG, the German automotive conglomerate that oversees Mercedes-Benz, received a report mentioning a defective steering assembly found in C-Class vehicles in the U.S. market. The automaker requested that the part be shipped back to the supplier, Robert Bosch Automotive Steering in Hungary, for evaluation. Robert Bosch personnel received the part in April and immediately launched a root cause investigation. Over the course of this inquiry, the parts provider learned that the pins within the power steering control module had been improperly welded during production. Robert Bosch initiated a weld-position-monitoring program to prevent further replication of the defective features on the shop floor in May 2017. The company also reviewed its production records and discovered that 13 steering assemblies had departed its production facility with improperly affixed control module pins, all of which had been earmarked for DAG vehicles. As of June 1, all steering assemblies produced by Robert Bosch have passed quality assurance tests.
In August, DAG reviewed its production records to pinpoint models containing power steering control modules with defective pins. One month later, safety personnel at the company ruled that the features posed an unavoidable safety risk to owners and called for a voluntary recall.
DAG notified dealers Sept. 29.
The Solution
The automaker directed dealers to replace the power steering assemblies in affected vehicles free of charge, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgment document. DAG intends to notify owners via first-class mail Nov. 10. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Mercedes-Benz customer service personnel at (877) 496-3691. Owners can also contact the NHTSA directly using its Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.
